PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Brandao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maia comes to the cage accompanied by Sepultura - Ratamahatta. Brandao comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Era - The Mass kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Maia
vs
Brandao

173 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pedro Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Brandao!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia shoots in looking for a takedown. Brandao tries to sprawl out of it but Maia keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Brandao manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Brandao closes the distance and pushes Maia back into the cage.
Brandao prevents Maia from breaking the clinch.
Maia is looking to break free of the clinch but Brandao has double underhooks.
Brandao tries to break the clinch but Maia is controlling the position.
Brandao gets underhooks to prevent Maia's takedown attempt.

Brandao manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Brandao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brandao working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maia.

Brandao looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Brandao looking for a sweep. Not yet Brandao, not yet.
Brandao wants to stand and escape but Maia is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
Maia working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Brandao is looking for a triangle but Maia pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brandao is keeping the position for now.
Brandao manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maia manages to get himself to full guard.
Brandao with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maia trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brandao wants to stand but Maia has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Maia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Brandao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Maia managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Maia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Brandao!
Maia is breathing heavily.
Maia can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Brandao is looking to escape.
Brandao wants to control but Maia is having none of it.
Brandao's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia prevents Brandao from getting the reversal.
Brandao sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Maia not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Brandao is staying active underneath Maia, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Brandao tries to roll over but Maia keeps him under control.
Brandao is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Maia wants to get back to his feet.
Brandao gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Brandao has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Maia off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Brandao misses with an uppercut.
Brandao throws a good cross that connects.
Brandao throws a right hand that Maia ducks under and follows up with a left that Maia also avoids with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Brandao tries to clinch

and Maia counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Brandao's guard now.
Maia works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Maia is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Brandao is looking to get to half guard.
Maia punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pedro Maia will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Brandao scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
No luck for Maia with that takedown attempt.
Maia throws a left and a right that both miss

and Brandao counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Brandao.
Maia stalling.

Brandao manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Brandao looking for a guillotine here but Maia defends easily.
Brandao keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.
Brandao wants to sweep but no luck.
Maia wants to control from the top but Brandao keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Brandao escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maia gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brandao is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Brandao trying to control from Maia's half guard. Maia has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Brandao looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Brandao trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brandao pushes down on Maia's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brandao stalling.
Maia wants to control but Brandao is keeping busy.
Brandao wants to control but Maia is keeping him busy.
Brandao not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maia is looking for a sweep. Brandao is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Brandao not doing much here.
Brandao trying to control from Maia's half guard. Maia has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brandao pushing down on Maia's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Brandao prevents Maia from improving his position.
Still in half guard, Brandao seems content to control.
Maia trying to control from the bottom.

Brandao is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Maia is trying to control but can't.

Brandao is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Maia doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Brandao.

Brandao is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Brandao's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Brandao's back!
Brandao turns into Maia and is now in his guard.

Brandao stands and steps away. Maia gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Maia wants to clinch but Brandao slips to the side
and Brandao counters with a straight right hand.
Brandao closes the distance but Maia moves to the side

and Maia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Brandao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Brandao lands a jab to Maia's midsection.
Maia throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Bruno Brandao has been cut.

Brandao moves into the clinch.
Brandao presses Maia against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Brandao jumps guard and drags Maia to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Maia trying to control but Brandao is working from the bottom.
Brandao utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Brandao working a defensive guard here.
Maia wants to control from the top but Brandao keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Maia avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Brandao is on top in guard.
Brandao tries to free his leg and advance position but Maia is retaining full guard.
Maia is looking to stand up but Brandao isn't so interested in that idea.
Maia throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Brandao drops back looking for a leg! Maia is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Maia manages to kick Brandao off! Brandao jumps back into Maia's guard.
Brandao stopping the sweep attempt from Maia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Brandao drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Maia dives on top into guard.
Maia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brandao swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Brandao working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Maia preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia wants to control from the top but Brandao keeps moving.
Brandao bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Maia's guard.
Brandao has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Maia is proving hard to escape from.
Bruno Brandao has got the better of the ground game so far.

Brandao gets to his feet. Maia looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Brandao throws a hook but Maia avoids it easily.
Maia takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Maia tries a head kick but it misses.
Maia has a takedown stuffed.
Brandao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maia circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Brandao counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Brandao.

Brandao gets control of Maia's arms and successfully pulls guard. Brandao will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Brandao keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.
Brandao manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maia manages to get himself to full guard.
Brandao works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Maia is trying to stand back up but Brandao is controlling him
Brandao stalling away here and it's allowed Maia to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Brandao gets to his feet. Maia looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Maia shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Brandao but Brandao pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruno Brandao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Brandao has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruno Brandao!